Odisha Youth Drowns In River While Allegedly Fleeing Police Raid
The deceased was attempting to evade a police raid on gambling den.
Bhubaneswar : A 25-year-old youth allegedly drowned in the Brahmani River in Odisha's Angul district while attempting to evade a police raid on an illegal gambling operation, officials said on Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Rajesh Gochhayat, a resident of Kadalipali village under the jurisdiction of Rengali police station.
According to police sources, a Special Squad conducted a raid on Wednesday evening following a tip-off about an alleged gambling den operating near the riverbank in Kadalipali village. As the police team approached the site, several persons reportedly tried to flee.
Sources said three individuals allegedly jumped into the Brahmani River in an attempt to escape arrest. While two of them managed to swim to safety, Gochhayat was swept away by the river's currents and drowned.
Local residents and police personnel launched a search operation, and his body was later recovered from the river.
During the raid, police seized a large quantity of materials allegedly linked to the gambling operation, including two auto-rickshaws, two cars, a Bolero utility vehicle, eight motorcycles and cash amounting to Rs 35,000.
A total of 13 persons were detained for questioning in connection with the case and remained in police custody at the time of filing this report.
The incident has triggered concern in the area, with residents questioning the circumstances that led to the youth entering the river. However, neither the police nor the family members of the deceased had issued an official statement regarding the incident till late Thursday.
Police said further investigation was underway.
